Testing for Syphilis: Questions for the doctor

Syphilis ("SIF-uh-lis") is a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, that you can get during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you can pass it your baby.

Get tested for syphilis if you:

Are pregnant

Are a man who has sex with men

Are HIV-positive (have HIV)

If you have had sex with someone who tested positive for syphilis, ask your doctor if you need to get tested.

Some people who get syphilis have symptoms soon after they get it. But many people who have syphilis don't notice any signs or symptoms at all. The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested.

If it's not treated, syphilis can lead to serious health problems and even death. Medicine can cure syphilis, but it can't undo any damage that syphilis has already caused. That's why it's important to get tested regularly if you are at risk.

What if I've had syphilis before?

Being treated for syphilis once doesn't protect you from getting it again. It's possible to get syphilis again after you've been cured – so ask your doctor if you need to be tested.

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010, health insurance plans must cover syphilis testing for adults at higher risk and all pregnant women. You may be able to get tested at no cost to you. Talk to your insurance company to find out more.

For more information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit Healthcare.gov.

What do I ask the doctor?

Visiting the doctor can be stressful. It helps to have questions for the doctor or nurse written down ahead of time. Print this list of questions and take it to your appointment.

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Sunday, February 18, 2018